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The show, in which various homemade robots kitted out with buzz saws, crushing claws and generally pointless flamethrowers fight each other, and a cadre of supercharged 'house' robots, originally ran from 1998 until 2001. Further, smaller-scale episodes followed on BBC Choice and Channel 5, along with global versions of the idea. But Robot Wars' cultural impact was greater than its short-lived time on our TV screens, with memorable tributes including a classic episode of Spaced.

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, the Beeb has apparently decided the public is ready to once again force robots to brawl for our pitiless amusement.

Six episodes, each 60 minutes in length, will be produced in the initial run, the BBC said. "The show will be recorded in a new purpose-built fighting arena in Glasgow," the BBC added. "Allowing viewers to get even closer to the action, with state-of-the-art cameras capable of capturing every crushing, sawing and scorching moment in incredible detail."

The show was commissioned by a mixture of executives, including by BBC2 and BBC4 controller Kim Shillinglaw, acting controller of entertainment Alan Tyler and BBC daytime and nations commissioning editor Jo Street.

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The new show will reportedly include more science and details about the robots and how they work, alongside the exhilaratingly filmed but, probably, in reality quite underwhelming battles. Hopefully the show will treat its robots kindly; now we know humans can feel empathy for robots in pain, there's something slightly sad about the knowledge the several more automata are about to go to the great scrapyard in the sky for our viewing pleasure.

Chris Brogden, creative director of entertainment at Tinopolis, said in a statement: "Bringing back Robot Wars to our screens is hugely exciting. Its return will see new and improved robots, with extraordinary innovation and power in these updated machines -- it promises to be quite the competition."

Meanwhile robots continue to be developed for use in actual wars around the globe -- though not yet in any lethal capacity.